In the small rural North Mississippi community of my childhood, there was one unpardonable sin, one transgression that was unforgivable, and that was to act above your station. We did not have much, but we were a proud people, and how dare you act like you were better than we were just because you had more money, or were born elsewhere, or had been taught to pronounce the consonants at the end…

The deadline of publishing each week means I write more, which was one of the goals. But since Saturday comes whether I'm done or not, sometimes it feels rushed, like this one does for me. I will explore this topic in more depth later, with more length and a much better ending. Thanks for going along the creative process with me. - HH

It was the first house I would own, a…

In the Jewish scriptures, we are told the story of a man named Abram. He is promised by his God that he will have unheard-of levels of wealth, that his descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky, and that he would be abundantly blessed. 

Abram was told that he was being blessed in this way in order that through him, all the world would be blessed. 

I want to introduce you…

Mr. Doc was a tall man, especially for his time, with broad shoulders and a strong back, somewhat stooped with age. He was retired, and while it’s convenient shorthand to call him a retired farmer, he had really been a bit of everything - a well digger, a truck farmer, and a small-time cattleman. Like most folks that lived around me when I was growing up, he did what he needed to…

Hi there - this week my wife had a procedure at the hospital, and this essay was a side effect. This week's essay is a bit longer than I normally go, but I didn't have time to write it shorter ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. As a reminder, I am now sending an original, unpublished essay each week as bonus content for my members. I hope you like it! - HH

The receptionist at the…